The Best Dim Sum in San Diego (2024)

FAQs

What is the most popular dimsum? ›

The most popular dim sum menu items include Har Gow (shrimp dumplings), Siu Mai (pork and shrimp dumplings), Char Siu Bao (BBQ pork buns), Cheong Fun (rice noodle rolls), Lo Bak Go (turnip cake), Fung Zao (chicken feet), and Dan Tat (egg tart).

Steamed Dim Sum: Dishes like har gow (shrimp dumplings) and siu mai (pork dumplings) are not only rich in protein but also low in calories. Steaming ensures that the nutrients, especially from seafood and vegetables, are preserved, providing essential vitamins and minerals.

Dim sum: 10% usually, 15% on the East Coast. Chinese dim sum places in SoCal seem chill/and are used to 10% as normal. Meanwhile in Boston, after hearing about multiple rants from waiters I'm inclined to think 15% is standard at dim sum. In China I don't think tipping is expected.

A white wine with good acidity and a notable freshness will respect the flavours and textures of the dim sum. A wine with a nice minerality is also to be preferred. Indeed, in order not to mask, but to accompany the iodized notes of the seafood, an appellation known for its minerality is appropriate.

Shu Mai. Shu mai just might be the most famous dish in the dim sum canon and it is a mandatory order. Generally, the steamed dumpling is filled with a blend of pork and shrimp alongside mushrooms, ginger, scallions. Some variations even include water chestnuts or crab if they are feeling extra fancy.

"Dim sums are bite-sized, high in protein, low in carbohydrates, and are steamed," said nutritionist Pooja Makhija.

German company Yumbau, owned and operated by Hongmei Zhang (China) and Kevin Brück (Germany) has seriously pricey dim sum dumplings as part of their offering. In fact, their exclusive Blue Diamond Dim Sum will set you back a huge £399 (that's €460.32 or $517.03).

Never lay claim to any one dish. Ask everyone at your table before taking the last piece of a dish. If you need to, request a fork from your waiter. Do not spear food with your chopsticks or use your hands (with the exception of large buns).

What does dim sum literally mean? ›

The word dim sum comes from the Cantonese tim sam, "appetizer," or literally, "touch the heart." Definitions of dim sum. noun. traditional Chinese cuisine; a variety of foods (including several kinds of steamed or fried dumplings) are served successively in small portions.

People generally tip 15-20% of the bill. To calculate tip multiply the total check by 1 plus the decimal percentage tip you'd like to leave. If you wanted to leave a 20% tip, you would add 1 to 0.20 to get 1.20. Multiply the bill by 1.20 to get the total amount you'd leave including tip.

Steamed dishes: Steamed dishes are generally healthier than fried or deep-fried options. You can try steamed vegetable dumplings, steamed shrimp dumplings, steamed tofu, and vegetable rolls. Broth-based soups: You can opt for clear soups like hot and sour soup, egg drop soup, or wonton soup.

As with all restaurant food it depends on the choices you make. A lot of dim sum offerings are steamed so they aren't bad. If you choose all deep fried stuff you have an unhealthy meal. If you pick vegetables and steamed dumplings you can make a healthy meal.

Cheung suggests Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir from the Russian River Valley, and, the most obvious pairing, rice wine. "In China, many of the restaurants serve rice wine in house to go with all meals and services," he adds.

A traditional dim sum brunch includes various types of steamed buns, such as cha siu bao (a steamed bun filled with barbecue pork), rice or wheat dumplings, and rice noodle rolls that contain a range of ingredients, including beef, chicken, pork, prawns, and vegetarian options.

Regional Varieties of Dim Sum

Cantonese Classics: Cantonese dim sum is the most well-known variety internationally, originating from Southern China's Guangdong Province. Staples such as har gow (shrimp dumplings) and siu mai (open-topped steamed pork dumplings) are revered for their delicate wrappers and rich fillings.

How do you order dim sum? First, pick a tea, as it will be a central part of the meal — dim sum did originate in tea houses after all.

The largest dim sum (yum cha) meal consists of 764 people and was achieved by 101.7 WSFM's Jonesy & Amanda (Australia) in partnership with Channel 7 and City of Sydney in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, on 5 February 2019.